Grocery box



1927' i w. F. FOLMER v GROCERY BOX Filed Jan. 13. l926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' i p .41 INVENTOR.

mllammlnwr zlsAT ORNEY 1,617,900 Feb. 15, 1927. I r w. F. FOLMER GROCERY BOX Filed Jan 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENT OR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

[U NITED STATES -\HIIJLIAIVI F. FOLMER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

v(SrRCIbCERY BOX.

Application filed January 13, 1926. Serial 170.80g?! My present invention relates to special receptacles and more particularly to boxes, and it has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive and convenient box adapted for the delivery of groceries. The improvements are directed toward providing a folding box that can be collapsed after the delivery of the contents and also a folding box that will nest or stack with other boxes of the same construction. The improve ments are further directed toward providing a box with a label holder that will fold to a protected position and which may contain .the address of the recipient or other data.

extended and shown nested or stacked upon a similar box, a fragment of which latter is shown in transverse section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing the manner in which the bottom is supported when extended;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse-section (parts being broken away) on the line 66 of Figure lshowing the supporting and stacking brackets and Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing in elevation the catch that is shown in section in Figure 5.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The general purpose that I have in mind is to provide a grocery box for the delivery of groceries or similar uses which can be collapsed into small compass when empty and which when extended can be stacked, one upon the other, in the delivery wagon. Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the sides and 2 the bottom of a preferably wooden box, the bottom being hinged to one of the sides at 3. The side to which the bottom is hinged has an L shaped end 4 of sufficient extent to equal the thickness of the bottom 2 when the latter is folded against the side wall as shown in Figure 3, itbeing understood that the said side wall and the bottom areprefelz ably coextensive in area. The end walls are made in two parts, 5 and 6 hinged to each other at the center as indicated at 7 so that they may fold into parallelism as shown in Figure 3. The portion 5 of each end wall is hinged at 8 to the L shaped portion 4 of theside wall while the adjoining portion 6 is hinged at 9 to the opposite side wall. This provides a construction .whereby the bottom 2 may be folded against the :side wall to which it is connected and the end walls then folded in so that the opposite side wall is brought against the first mentioned side wall with the folded end walls and the bottom intervening, all as clearly shown in Figure 3.

\Vhen the bottom is extended as in Figures 1 and 2, it occupies the interior of-the foldable frame described and holds it in rectangular form because of the nature of the hinges 7 and 8. It is supported in this extended position by clips or brackets 10 which are preferably made of angular metal strips provided with reinforcing ribs 11. These clips or brackets are secured to the interior surfaces of the side walls 1 and project downwardly in an offset position so as to fit within the box next below upon which the box being described is stacked. This is shown in Figure 4 where it will be observed that theside and end walls of one box rest edge to edge upon the lower box while the bottom 2, because of the offset brackets 10 just described and the nature of the hinge'3, lies below the rim or upper edge of the lower box. In other words the whole bottom of each box is downwardly offset and lies below the lower edges of the side walls. This prevents the boxes from rocking or falling within the swaying of the vehicle in which they are being conveyed, but as soon as the box is delivered and emptied it is collapsed to the position of they are provided each with a protuberance or button 13 as clearly shown in Figure 7 which, when the bottom rests upon the lower flange of the bracket locks it against upward movement. This locking engagement is a yielding or latching engagement and each bracket 12 is constituted a catch for this purpose due to the fact that there is a certain yielding in the knee joint hinges 7 and 8. In other words, when the end walls are straightened the hinges 7 and 8 have presumably moved to their extreme positions, and yet there is give enough for the bottom to latch on the buttons 13 when it is pressed down, all as best shown in Figures 5 and 7.

In the use of delivery boxes of the character it is necessary to accompany them with an invoice or slip or at least with an address tag showing to whom they are consigned. To facilitate the attachment of this tag, invoice or slip to the box, I fasten to one of the folding end wall members a spring clip 14 under which the tag indicated at 15 in Figure 4 may be conveniently slipped. An advantage of placing this clip in the position described is that when the box is folded to the position of Figure 3, the clip is protected as well as the tag due to the fact that it is folded between the two end sections. Thus the tag is not soiled and there is no liability of the clip being bent or damaged.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding box for the purpose described, the combination with rigid side walls and end walls each made in two parts, hinged to each other and to the side walls to provide an extended rectangular structure, the end walls being adapted to fold upon each other to bring the side walls to gether, of a bottom hinged to one of the side walls to fold into close parallelism therewith and having all of its edges terminating within the planes of the interior faces of the box and adapted to project below the sides of the box and clips secured to the walls to support the bottom when extended, said clips being projected downwardly from said walls in a manner adapting them to support said bottom in nesting relation within the upper rim of another box of the same construction whereby the bottom is arranged to hold one box against lateral movement upon another.

2. In a folding box for the purpose described the combination with rigid side walls and end walls each made in two parts hinged to each other and to the side walls to provide when extended a rectangular structure, the end walls being adapted to fold upon each other to bring the side walls together, of a bottom hinged to one of the side walls to fold into close parallelism therewith and adapted to be extended within the side and end walls to hold them extended, and supporting clips for the bottom arranged upon one element of each end wall, said clips being projected downwardly so that they and the bottom may nest within the top of a box of similar construction, and having portions adapted to act as latches for holding the bottom against inward movement.

3. In a folding box for the purpose described the combinati-on with rigid side walls and end walls each made in two parts hinged to each other and to the side walls to provide when extended a rectangular structure, the end walls being adapted to fold upon each other to bring the side walls together, of a bottom hinged to one of the side walls to fold into close parallelism therewith and adapted to be extended within the side and end walls to hold them extended, and clips secured to the walls to support the bottom when extended, said clips being projected downwardly in the planes of the inner Sur faces of the walls adapting them to nest within the upper rim of another box of the same construe-ion, and having dmvnwardly extending ribs serving to strengthen the clips and also serving to reduce resistance to movement of the box upon a floor by reducing'friction, between the latter and the clips.

i WILLIAM F. FOLMER. 

